wedding

One of the unexpected fashion struggles I’ve recently been faced with, while growing this little nugget in my stomach, was planning for a formal event. Typically I shop early and plan ahead when attending a wedding, gala or something that requires a new gown. But when you are unsure of how big you’ll be at the time of the event, it creates an extra level of difficulty and stress.

For my cousin’s wedding a few weeks back, I began my search online, looking for local stores that would carry something formal and fun and that would fit a me at 25 weeks. I kept finding myself on ASOS browsing their huge selection of dresses. Having only shopped on their site once before, and not too pleased with the sizes (or duties) of the items I had purchased, I found myself hesitant to order, but I finally came around a few days later when I felt that there weren’t other affordable options that would really work. I picked out a handful of dresses with two in mind for this event. Two would provide me choice, given the inability to try it on, or knowledge of how big my bump would be at the time of the event. When the order arrived, this off-the-shoulder blue dress was the clear winner, as the other option could fit a bump double the size and a bust half the size.

I do love this dress and it had caught my eye on their site super early during my pregnancy, when I was researching flattering silhouettes. The body-con shape leaves nothing to the imagination and shows the world your beautiful growing bump.

The struggle is definitely real shopping online, especially on sites that you don’t often shop on. But the task is even harder when your body is going through daily changes. I still hope I can find an occasion to wear the other dress as it’s stunning, or at least fit into it to properly to share with you on the blog.

We are now mid-wedding season, and I found myself attracted to a classic shapes this season, that is totally new for me. For the last few years, it was all about gowns when it came to wedding-dressing (two examples of stunning gowns I’ve worn to some fabulous weddings: 1, 2). I loved how glamorous I felt in a floor sweeping gown while twirling on a dance floor. But this season, and it may be the humid temperatures, I’ve found myself tempted by shorter silhouette for formal engagements.

Typically I wouldn’t wear a short dress to a formal event, as it never really felt as elegant as I wanted to, until I laid eyes on this silk embroidered shift dress from Stella McCartney. It was love and first sight. From the colour to the floral details, not to mention the pockets, it truly was like nothing else I have in my wardrobe and knew I had to have it.

I paired this beauty with my favourite vintage choker and the matching earrings I picked up at The One of a Kind Craft Show a few seasons ago, and was absolutely in love with this ensemble.

Getting ready for a wedding is one thing. It becomes a completely different story, when you’re injured. For those who don’t know, I tore my meniscus back in October (after Fashion Week, thankfully), and have been living in running shoes and oxfords for some times awaiting surgery. But when one of your best friends gets married, you know you have to still bring it.

Planning this outfit took more time than expected, as my main concern was my knee, and ensuring I could still walk by the end of the night. The dress, I knew had to be long, incase I woke up that day in pain and would need to wear my knee brace. The heel would have to be minimal which would be a first for me. And I would need to plan ahead with a pair of flats so that I could change at any point.

I found this dress, effortlessly during boxing week, at Hudson’s Bay. There were almost too many beautiful gowns to choose from, and ended up buying two. The studded straps sold me on this Halston Heritage gown though, as the bride, in my mind has always been a badass. The shoes, seemed to be more difficult because I procrastinated, and waited too long to go searching, and most places were sold out of my size. I found solid gold at Zara, with these laced-up-chunky-heels that lasted me the entire night! The coat was the easiest part, a vintage fur I found while vacation up north with family, perfect fir a cold winter night.